Mayor Chuck Reed said it was important the city reign in the nearly 100 medical marijuana dispensaries that had been operating illegally in order to establish operating principals for the licensed clubs.

“First we need to get control and demonstrate that the system works,” Reed said.

KCBS’ Betsy Gebhart Reports:

Although the Santa Clara elections officials still must verify the signatures, City Clerk Dennis Hawkins says the activists need just 29,653 from registered voters to put the referendum on the ballot for the next regularly scheduled municipal election.

The United Food and Commercial Workers helped gather those signatures.

“We see this as an assault on workers’ rights,” said Matthew Whitmeyer, a spokesman for the union.

If the ballot measure is confirmed, the city council also has the option to schedule a special election, or to repeal the regulations by a council vote.

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